AQEEDAH AS A PRIORITY

By

Ibn Abdillah As-sudaisiy Al-Iloori

21st November 2024

What has happened in the past few days only points to the fact that we need more of 'aqeedah and sunnah enlightenment lectures and posts. They are to be taught by those who know it in ways that people will understand and with wisdom. If this is done effectively, arguments and debates on matters that have been settled by scholars will reduce to a great extent. I read some comments and they show we have misplaced our priority (creed and methodology). I know people hardly read 'aqeedah posts and books, but let write them beautifully and use illustrations to explain them. Things will get better in Sha Allāh.

In the classical books of scholars on 'aqeedah, deviants and deviant sects are boldly refuted as they appear from one generation to another. But in this our generation where we have greater evils, there are neither deviants nor deviant sects in the diary of some people. They feel anyone or any sect should be allowed to speak about Islam anyhow without recourse to the works of scholars whose generations are closer to that of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and the companions رضي الله عنهم. The Salaf have solved a lot of issues in their books, it is better to stick to them. The older our points of reference, the better. The scholars of the past refuted the Jahmiyyah, Qadariyyah, Jabariyyah, Mu'tazilah, Asha'rah etc. but if scholars of this generation refute the Sufis, Ikhwaan, Shi'as, Tableegh, and even Ahmadiyyah, there is big problem. They will be accused of causing disunity among the Muslims. By Allāh, we need to check ourselves. 

One of the good things about matters of 'aqeedah is that scholars hardly differ on them because they are tawqeefiyyah (fixed). The texts about them are usually clear and unambiguous and they do not require any ijtihād. They are to be accepted as they are. Anyone who attempts to use logic or reasoning on matters of 'aqeedah is likely to be misguided. So, when you see a strange view on a matter of 'aqeedah, it is likely to be a mistake on the part of the scholar that gives it and it should be refuted with the most reliable one. We should not hide under ikhtilāf to fight the truth.

If we all understand this, no one will think his favour teacher or scholar cannot be refuted reasonably. No one is perfect. As noted earlier today by Ustadh Olatunji Ibrahim , there are red lines that must not be crossed no matter who a scholar is. We pray that our favourite scholars continue to be upon sound creed and methodology. If any of them err, there are scholars and students of knowledge who will call their attention and we will not play politics on it by insisting they are right when they are not actually right. Even in the maqasidus sharī'ah (objectives of Islamic law), the protection of the religion of Allāh (Islam/Sunnah) is more important than protecting personalities. 

If anyone attempts to destroy the basis and he fails to take corrections, he must be called to order. Generally,refutations are meant to be persuasive and easy, but sometimes being harsh where appropriate is legislated in this Deen. This is what it means to have gheerah for the Islām and Sunnah. The aim is to protect the Ummah, especially the ignorant and unsuspecting Muslims and not to attack any personality.

May Allāh guide us aright